Variator

ABSTRACT

Multiple product gasoline dispensing apparatus having a variator presettable for programming a three-place unit volume price for each of the gasoline products. Three coaxial drive ratchet assemblies each comprising a bank of angularly settable ratchet wheels are provided for programming the units, tens, and hundreds places of the unit volume price. A stepping unit pivotally mounted to be oscillated about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels comprises a drive pawl for each of the ratchet wheels and three coaxial selector cams for the three ratchet assemblies for selectively activating the pawls for driving corresponding ratchet wheels as the stepping unit is oscillated. The selector cams are connected to be angularly set by a product selector knob and the indexing unit is connected to be oscillated to set the variator in accordance with the angular settings of the selected ratchet wheels when the gasoline cost and volume registers are reset just prior to the commencement of a fuel delivery.

United States Patent 1 July 11, 1972 Devanney [54] VARIATOR [72] Inventor: Raymond H. Devanney, Winsted, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Veeder Industries, lnc., Hartford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 i '21 Appl. No.: 64,277

[52] US. Cl. ..235/61 M, 235/94, 222/26, 74/681 [51] Int. Cl. ..B67d 5/22 [58] Field of Search ..235/94 R, 94 A, 61 L, 61 M; 222/25, 26-, 74/681, 348

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,373- 7/1943 Bugg ..74/681 2,323,374 7/1943 Bugg ..74/68'1 2,472,478 6/1949 Hinds ...74/681 X 3,152,724 10/1964 Jauch et a1... ..222/26 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal Anorney--Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [57] ABSTRACT Multiple product gasoline dispensing apparatus having a variator presettable for programming a three-place unit volume price for each of the gasoline products. Three coaxial drive ratchet assemblies each comprising a bank of angularly settable ratchet wheels are provided for programming the units, tens, and hundreds places of the unit volume price. A stepping unit pivotally mounted to be oscillated about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels comprises a drive pawl for each of the ratchet wheels and three coaxial selector cams for the three ratchet assemblies for selectively activating the pawls for driving corresponding ratchet wheels as the stepping unit is oscillated. The selector cams are connected to be angularly set by a product selector knob and the indexing unit is connected to be oscillated to set the variator in accordance with the angular settings of the selected ratchet wheels when the gasoline cost and volume registers are reset just prior to the commencement of a fuel delivery.

24 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 1 1 I972 SHEET 10F 3 JAE W RAYMOND H. DEVANNEY BYwM ATTORNEYS VARIATOR The present invention relates to variators and more particularly to a variator having notable utility in multiple product gasoline dispensing apparatus for operating the usual cost register in accordance with the volumetric amount of gasoline dispensed and the unit volume price established by the variator setting and which is presettable for programming the variator setting and therefore the unit volume price for each of the gasoline products.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator for multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus which is presettable for programming the unit volume price of each of the fluid products.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator for multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus which is presettable for programming the unit volume price of each of the fluid products and selectively settable for selectively establishing each programmed unit volume price.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator for multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus which may be readily preset to program the unit volume price of each of the fluid products.

It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator programming unit adapted to be preset for programming a plurality of variator settings and selectively operable to set the variator in accordance with each of the programmed settings.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide new and improved variator change speed gearing of the type having a center spindle assembly and a plurality of drive spindle assemblies annularly arranged about the center spindle assembly.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of an illustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally schematic view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a multiple product gasoline dispensing system incorporating an embodiment of a variator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a section of the variator; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view, partly broken away. and partly in section, of the variator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now. in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, a multiple product gasoline dispensing system incorporating an embodiment of a variator of the present invention is shown comprising a pair of motor driven pumps 14 for delivering separate grades of gasoline to a dispensing nozzle 16 via a pair. of fuel meters18, a proportioning valve 20 and a pair. of coaxial conduits 22, 24. The output shafts of the meters 18 are connected to a summation differential 26 to drive suitable blend ratio gearing 28 in accordance with the total amount of fuel dispensed. In a conventional manner the rotation of output shaft 29 of blend gearing 28 is compared with the rotation of the output shaft 25 of one of the meters 18 by a subtraction differential 30 to control the proportioning valve 20 and thereby establish the blend proportions in accordance with the setting of the blend gearing 28.

The output of the summation differential 26 is also suitably connected for driving a resettable volume counter 32 for registering the total volume of gasoline dispensed and to a variator input gear 34 for driving the variator 10. A resettable cost counter 36 is connected to be driven by a variator output gear 37 to register the cost of the fuel delivered in accordance with the total volume dispensed and a unit volume price within a three-place price range established by the variator setting. A

price register 38 comprisingthree price posting wheels 3941 is connected as hereinafter described to register the unit volume price established by the variator setting.

An electrical reset motor 46 is connected via a speed reducer 48 and a control mechanism 50 for rotating a reset shaft 52 one revolution for resetting the volume and cost counters 32, 36. In a conventional manner the control mechanism 50 is adapted to, be manually operated by a control handle 56 such that when the handle 56 is rotated to its On position the control mechanism 50 is operated for rotating the reset shaft 52,one revolution for resetting counters 32, 36 and for energizing the pump motors 57 after the counters are reset, and such that when the handle'56 is rotated to its Off" position the control mechanism 50 is operated for de-energizing the pump motors 57. The control handle 56 is preferably associated with the nozzle storage receptacle 58 in a conventional manner so that the handle 56 must be rotated to its Off position shown in FIG. 1 to permit the nozzle to be replaced in its storage receptacle 58 and so that the handle can be subsequently pivoted to .its On" position to operate the reset control mechanism 50 only after the nozzle is removed from its storage receptacle 58.

A product selector 62 having a rotatable selector knob 64 is provided for selecting each of the available fuel productsfive products in the shown embodiment which for example may include each of the two separate grades of gasoline individually and three different blends of the two grades of gasoline. The product selector knob 64 is suitably connected to the blend gearing 28 and proportioning valve 20 for setting the dispensing apparatus for delivering the selected product. The product selector knob 64 is also connected to the variator 10 as hereinafter described for conditioning the variator to be set as pre-established for each selector position of the knob An interlock 66 is preferably provided between selector shaft 68 and control shaft 70-to permit the knob 64 to be rotated only when the control handle 56 is in its Off position and to permit rotationof the control handle 56 to its On position only when selector knob 64 is in one of its six selector positions (i.e., five product selector positions shown designated by the. numerals I through 5 on a product selector plate 71 and a presetting position shown designated by the letter P" on the product selector plate). The interlock 66 may for example be like that shown in FIG. 6 of Bickford et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,021 dated Dec. 16, 1969 and entitled Fluid Dispensing Apparatus with Cost and Volume Registers.

The variator 10 comprises a change speedgearing unit having three variator decade sections 82-84 of increasing order generally. like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,323,374 of K. C. Bugg dated, July 6, 1943 and entitled Computing Mechanism, and a control unit having three control sections 92-94 for the three decade sections 82-84 respectively. The three variator decade sections 82-84 are separately settable to establish the units, tens, and hundreds places respectively of a three-place unit volume price. As the three variator decade sections 82-84 are substantially identical and the three control sections 92-94 are substantially identical, only one of the variator decade sections (i.e., variator section 84 and the corresponding control section (i.e., control section 94) are substantially fully shown in the drawings.(i.e., FIG. 2).

The change speed gearing unit 80 comprises a center spindle assembly witha nonrotatable support shaft 102 and ten spindle assemblies -119 annularly arranged about the center spindle assembly 100. Each of the spindle assemblies 111-119 has three drive gears (designated by the spindle assembly numeral plus a suffix U, T or H'' for the units," tens, and hundreds sections respectively of the change speed gearing unit 80) driven by the respective supporting spindle. The spindle assemblies 111-119 are driven by the input gear 34 via suitable gearing (incompletely shown) to provide relative drive ratios through the drive gears of each variator section of 1 through 9 respectively.

The spindle assembly 110 comprises three compound gears 110U, 110T, and 1101-1 (for the three variator decade sections 82-84 respectively) rotatably mounted on the supporting spindle 110S. Each such compound gear 110U, 110T, ll-i comprises (a) a locking gear 122 lying in the common plane of the respective spindle drive gears, (b) an idler pinion 124, and (c) a locking cam 126.

Each idler pinion 124 engages a decade selector gear 130 for rotating a range gear 132 mounted on the selector gear for selective engagement with the locking gear 122 and each of the respective drive gears. Thus, by selectively angularly setting the selector gear 130 (via pinion 124) the range gear 132 may be selectively set to be locked against rotation (with locking gear 122) and driven at each of the relative drive ratios of 1 through 9 (with drive gears of spindle assemblies 111-1 19 respectively).

The range gear 132 engages a gear 139 to provide a first input to planetary gearing or combining differential 140 having planetary compound gears 144, 145. An output gear 148 is driven by gear 145 to drive the variator output gear 37 (or in the case of decade sections 82, 83 to drive an input gear 150 of the succeeding decade section), and an input gear 150 engaging gear 144 is driven by the output of the preceding decade section (or in the case of decade section 82 is suitably locked against rotation).

The variator 10 can be set to establish any unit volume price within a three-place price range and for example be set to establish a unit volume price of 30.9 cents (e.g., 30.9 cents/gallon) by setting (a) the hundreds range gear 132 in engagement with the drive gear of the 3 spindle assembly 113, (b) the tens range gear 132 in engagement with the locking gear 122 of the 0" spindle assembly 110, and (c) the units" range gear 132 in engagement with the drive gear of the 9" spindle assembly 119.

The center spindle assembly 100 is mounted such that the entire spindle assembly can be axially shifted from its normal operating position, in the downward direction as shown in H6. 1, to disengage the range gears 132 from the spindle gears. For this purpose a cam drum 160 having a peripheral cam slot 161 is rotatably mounted coaxially with the center spindle assembly 100. A bell crank 162 having a follower 164 received within the cam slot 161 anda bifurcated end 166 received within a peripheral slot of a collar 168 fixed to the spindle shaft 102 are provided for axially shifting the center spindle assembly as the cam drum 160 is rotated. The cam slot 161 is contoured such that the drum 160 may be rotated one complete revolution to (a) shift the center spindle assembly 100 to its withdrawn position to disengage the range gears 132 during approximately the first 25 of rotation of the drum, (b) hold the center spindle assembly 100 in its withdrawn axial position during the succeeding 310 of rotation of the drum and (c) return the center spindle assembly to its normal operating position during approximately the last 25 of rotation of the drum 160.

Each range gear 132 is mounted on a spring biased U- shaped lever 170 pivotally supported on the selector gear 130 such that the lever 170 will be pivoted to compress springs 171 if the teeth of the range gear 132 do not mesh with the teeth of the selected spindle gear when the center spindle assembly 100 is returned to its normal operating position. The range gear 132 will thereafter be automatically shifted by springs 17] into engagement with the selected spindle gear when fuel is delivered.

The drum 160 is connected to be rotated by reset shaft 52 through a suitable disengageable clutch 174 which for example may be a typical one-turn mechanism. The clutch 174 is connected to be operated by the product selector shaft 68 such that the clutch is engaged when the product selector shaft is rotated by the knob 64 to provide for rotating drum 160 one revolution (with reset shaft 52) when the volume and cost counters 32, 36 are reset.

The three control sections 92, 93, 94 of the control unit function to selectively set the range gears 132 in engagement with the spindle gears. Each control section 92, 93, 94 comprises a presettable drive assembly 200 rotatably mounted on a shaft 202, a bank 203 of ratchet pawls 204 individually pivotally mounted on a shaft 206, and a selector cam 208 secured to a shaft 210.

The ratchet pawl shaft 206 and cam shaft 210 are mounted on a frame comprising plates 213-217 pivotally mounted on support shaft 202 such that the three banks 203 of ratchet pawls 204 and the three selector cams 208 form a stepping unit 218 adapted to be oscillated about the axis of shaft 202.

Each presettable drive assembly 200 comprises a setting gear 220 (which is the same size as the selector gears in engagement with the respective idler pinion 124, a lO-tooth detent star wheel 222 fixed onto an elongated hub 221 of the setting gear 220 and a drive stack of six ratchet wheels (i.e., one "presetting ratchet wheel 224 for the presetting position P of the selector knob 64 and five price" ratchet wheels 225 for the five product selector positions of the selector knob 64) mounted on the hub 221. Each ratchet wheel 224, 225 has nine drive teeth with a 36 tooth pitch and a flat" or nondriving portion 232. The P" ratchet wheel 224 is suitably fixed onto the hub 221 and a ten position one-way ratchet clutch 234 is provided between the hub 221 and each of the price" ratchet wheels 225 such that each of the price ratchet wheels is adapted to be independently manually rotated on the hub 221 in one angular direction, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, and thereby adapted to be selectively set in each of 10 equiangularly spaced (i.e., spaced 36) positions relative to the hub 221. The price ratchet wheels 225 are locked by the ratchet clutches 234 against rotation on the hub 221 in the opposite angular direction.

A pivotal spring biased detent pawl 240 is provided for cooperation with the detent wheel 222 for detenting the drive assembly 200 in each of ten equiangularly spaced positions which approximately correspond to but are slightly angularly offset (approximately 5 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3) from the ten equiangularly spaced selector positions of the selector gear 130.

A ratchet drive pawl 204 is provided for each of the ratchet wheels 224, 225 and the selector cam 208 is provided with six axially and equiangularly spaced (i.e., angularly spaced 60) pawl activating recesses 241 for selectively activating the six ratchet pawls and corresponding ratchet wheels. The cam shaft 210 is connected via intermittent gearing 249 to be manually indexed by selector knob 64 in 60 increments such that the six recesses 241 are positioned for activating the six detent pawls 204 and corresponding ratchet wheels at the six selector positions respectively of the knob 64. The intermittent gearing 249 comprises a mutilated driven gear 250 secured to the cam shaft 210, a multi-segment driving gear 251 having six equiangularly spaced (i.e., angularly spaced 60) indexing gear segments 256 (adapted for individually indexing the gear 250 and cam shaft 210 in 60 increments) and a locking ring 258 having locking segments intermediate the gear segments 256 for locking the mutilated driven gear 250. The multi-segment gear 251 and locking ring 258 are angularly positioned when the selector knob 64 is in each of its six selector positions such that the stepping unit 218 may be oscillated as hereinafter described approximately 45 about the axis of the shaft 202 with the mutilated gear 250 remaining locked by the locking ring 258.

Thus, in each successive operating position of the cam shaft 210 (and selector knob 64) a different cam recess 241 is adapted to receive an end of a drive pawl 204 to activate that pawl for engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel. The P ratchet wheel 224 of all three drive assemblies 200 will be activated when the selector knob 64 is in its P position and the price" ratchet wheels 225 of each drive assembly 200 will be activated in succession with the selector knob 64 in its "1 through 5" product selector positions respectively.

A pair of eccentrics 270 are fixed onto the ends of the spindle 1108 and gearing comprising sector gear 271, mutilated idler gear 272, and driven gear 274 are provided for interconnecting the drum 160 and shaft 1108 such that the eccentrics 270 are rotated nine full revolutions (as the drum 160 is rotated through an angle of 310") while the center spindle assembly 100 is in its withdrawn position (and the range gears 132 are disengaged from the spindle gears). The eccentrics 270 are locked against rotation during the first 25 angle and last 25 angle of rotation of the drum 160 by the engagement of a locking ring 276 with the mutilated idler gear 272. Connecting rods 280 are mounted on the eccentrics 270 and pivotally connected to lever plates 281 to provide for oscillating the stepping unit 218 through an arc of substantially 45 between a normal or retracted position shown in FIG. 3 and an extended position which is counterclockwise of the normal position as viewed in FIG. 3.

The active pawl 204 is adapted to step the corresponding ratchet wheel and selector gear 130 (as the stepping unit 218 is oscillated) in 36 increments (i.e., equal to the ratchet wheel tooth pitch) in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, up to nine steps until the active pawl engages the nondriving portion 232 of the active ratchet wheel. Thus, by selectively presetting each price ratchet wheel 225 at one of the ten available positions on the hub 221, the setting gear 220 and therefore the respective selector gear 130 may be selectively indexed to a corresponding angular position for setting the range gear 132 in engagement with a selected spindle gear. The presetting ratchet wheel 224 is, however, fixed to the gear hub 221 such that when the selector knob is in its P selector position, the three presetting ratchet wheels 224 of the three drive assemblies 200 will be indexed to the same angular position whereupon the remaining price" ratchet wheels 225 may be selectively set to program the unit volume price for each of the product selector positions as desired by using the ratchet wheel indicia in conjunction with a suitable index 283. Preferably a manually operable interlock 284 is provided within the usual pump housing such that the selector knob 64 can be set at the P" position only by personnel having a key for opening the pump housing.

The pivotal frame plates 214-216 of stepping unit 218 form locking rings which cooperate with locking cams 126 to lock the range gears 132 in alignment with the spindle gears. The plates 214-216 are contoured to engage the cams 126 to lock the range gears 132 when the stepping unit 218 is in its fully withdrawn or normal position as shown in FIG. 3 and to become timely disengaged from the locking cams 126 as the stepping unit 218 is pivoted forwardly, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, to permit the idler gears 124 to be indexed by the active pawls and ratchet wheels. The stepping unit 218 preferably provides for indexing the stepping gears 220 to a forward offset angular position (approximately 5 beyond its operative angular position and located in part by the detent wheels 222) as the stepping unit 218 completes its forward stroke and such that as the stepping unit 218 returns to its normal position the locking plates 214-216 engage the locking cams 126 to rotate the setting gears 220 backwards slightly (i.e., 5), clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, to their operative positions. Such ensures that the locking cams 126 are positioned for smooth engagement by the locking plates 214- 216 as the stepping unit 218 is retracted to its normal position.

The price posting wheels 39-41 of the price register 38 are suitably connected to the setting gears 220 so that the price wheels are automatically set with the variator to indicate the unit volume price established by the variator setting.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

l claim:

1. 1n n variator having a rotary input. a rotary output, at least one rotary controller angularly settable for setting the means comprises a bank of a plurality of ratchet wheels for each rotary controller, each connected to be rotated to angularly set the rotary controller, and paw] drive means for selectively driving corresponding ratchet wheels of the ratchet wheel banks for setting the variator, and wherein the presettable means comprises control means associated with each ratchet wheel and presettable for discontinuing the pawl drive at a selected angular position of the respective rotary controller for programming the variator.

2. In a variator according to claim 1 having a plurality of rotary controllers of ascending order, wherein the setting means comprises a plurality of banks of coaxial ratchet wheels and wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels for rotating corresponding ratchet wheels of the ratchet wheel banks for setting the variator.

3. In a variator according to claim 1 wherein each ratchet wheel comprises a tooth sector operatively engageable by the pawl drive means and the control means associated with the ratchet wheel comprises a nontooth sector providing for discontinuing the pawl drive and wherein the tooth and nontooth sectors are angularly presettable together for discontinuing the pawl drive at a selected angular position of the respective rotary controller.

4. A variator according to claim 1 wherein the ratchet wheels are coaxially mounted and wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels for indexing the ratchet wheels.

5. A variator according to claim 4 wherein the drive pawl means comprises a plurality of coaxial pawls for the ratchet wheels respectively and wherein the setting means comprises a pawl selector means for selectively activating the ratchet pawls for indexing the respective ratchet wheels upon oscillation of the pawl drive means.

6. A variator according to claim 5 wherein the pawl selector means comprises a rotary selector rotatable for selectively activating the pawls and is mounted for oscillation with the pawl drive means.

7. A variator according to claim 6 wherein the pawl selector means comprises intermittent gearing with a driven gear connected to the rotary selector and an intermittent drive gear mounted coaxially with the ratchet wheels and permitting said oscillation of the rotary selector with the drive pawls without affecting the angular setting of the rotary selector.

8. In a variator according to claim 4 wherein each rotary controller is angularly settable in a plurality of equiangularly spaced selector positions, wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation between a first retracted angular position and an extended angular position for indexing the selected ratchet wheels, and wherein the setting means comprises locking means for locking the rotary controller in one of its selector positions with the pawl drive means in its retracted angular position.

9. In a variator according to claim 8 wherein the locking means comprises a first rotary locking member connected to rotate with the rotary controller and a second locking member mounted to oscillate with the pawl drive means for coopera tion with the first locking member to lock the rotary controller with the pawl drive means in its retracted angular position.

10. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus having a cost register operable for registering the cost of the fluid product dispensed, settable variating means having an output connected for operating the register in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and a unit volume price established by the setting of the variating means, and apparatus control means comprising presettable means presettable for programming the setting of the variating means and therefore the unit volume price of each of the fluid products and setting means selectively operable for selectively conditioning the apparatus for dispensing the fluid products and for setting the variating means and therefore the unit volume price in accordance with the corresponding setting of the presettable means, the improvement wherein the setting means comprises at least one bank of a plurality of ratchet wheels for the plurality of fluid products respectively, each connected for setting the variating means by rotation thereof, and stepping pawl means operable for selectively driving the ratchet wheels in accordance with the selected fluid product for setting the variating means, and wherein the presettable means comprises drive controller means associated with each ratchet wheel and presettable for selectively discontinuing the pawl drive for programming the setting of the variating means.

1 1. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of rachet wheels of said bank are coaxial.

12. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the stepping pawl means comprises a bank of a plurality of coaxial stepping pawls for the plurality of ratchet wheels respectively, and wherein the setting means comprises a pawl selector for selectively activating the pawls for engaging the ratchet wheels respectively and drive means for reciprocating the bank of pawls for indexing the corresponding ratchet wheel.

13. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the setting means comprises a plurality of said banks of ratchet wheels and separate stepping pawl means for each of the banks of ratchet wheels.

14. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the variating means comprises a plurality of decade sections of ascending order for establishing a plurality of places respectively of a multiple place unit volume price, wherein the setting means comprises a bank of said rachet wheels for each of the decade sections, and stepping pawl means for each of the banks of ratchet wheels.

15. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus having a cost register operable for registering the cost of the fluid product dispensed, settable variating means having an output connected for operating the register in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and a unit volume price established by the setting of the variating means, and apparatus control means comprising presettable means presettable for programming the setting of the variating means and therefore the unit volume price for each of the fluid products and setting means selectively operable for selectively conditioning the apparatus for dispensing the fluid products and for setting the variating means and therefore the unit volume price in accordance with the corresponding setting of the presettable means, the improvement wherein the setting means comprises at least one bank of a plurality of rotary drivable means for the fluid products respectively, each connected for setting the variating means in accordance with the angular position thereof, and drive means for selectively rotating the rotary drivable means in accordance with the selected fluid product for setting the variating means, and wherein the presettable means comprises drive controller means associated with each rotary drivable means and presettable for discontinuing the rotation of the drivable means at a selected angular position thereof for programming the setting of the variating means.

16. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of rotary drivable means are coaxially mounted, wherein the drive means comprises a plurality of separate disengageable drive members for the plurality of rotary drivable means respectively selectively operable for rotating the respective drivable means, and wherein the setting means comprises selector means for selectively operating the drive members for rotating the corresponding rotary drivable means.

17. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each rotary drivable means comprises a ratchet wheel and wherein the drive members are ratchet drive awls.

18. n a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of rotary drivable means comprises a plurality of ratchet wheels respectively.

19. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the drive controller means comprises inoperative angular portions on the ratchet wheels angularly settable by angularly setting the ratchet wheels.

20. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the ratchet wheels are coaxially mounted, wherein the drive means comprises a plurality of coaxial pivotal drive pawls for engaging the plurality of ratchet wheels respectively, a pawl support for supporting the coaxial drive pawls for reciprocable motion for indexing the ratchet wheels, and means for reciprocating the pawl support.

21. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the pawl support is mounted for pivotal reciprocable motion about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels.

22. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the setting means comprises a selector cam rotatably mounted on the pawl support for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the coaxial drive pawls and angularly settable for selectively activating the drive pawls for operative engagement with the ratchet wheels.

23. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the selector cam axis is parallel to and laterally spaced from the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels, wherein the setting means comprises a driven gear connected to the selector cam and an intermittent drive gear mounted coaxially with the ratchet wheels and engageable with the drive gear for angularly setting the selector cam and angularly settable to permit said pivotal motion of the pawl support without affecting the setting of the selector cam.

24. In a variator comprising a rotary input, a rotary output, an annular arrangement of a plurality of parallel drive spindles connected to the rotary input for being simultaneously driven thereby, at least one drive gear set comprising an annular arrangement of drive gears mounted on the drive spindles respectively for providing different drive ratios from the rotary input; a take-off spindle assembly having an axis parallel to the drive spindles and located within the annular arrangement thereof and comprising a rotary selector for each drive gear set mounted for rotation about the take-off spindle axis and a range geareccentrically mounted on the rotary selector and rotatable by the selector for selective engagement with each drive gear of the respective drive gear set, and gear means connecting the range gears to the rotary output for driving the output in accordance with the rotation of the range gears by the selected drive gears; and variator setting means for setting the drive ratio of the variator by angularly setting each rotary selector for setting the corresponding range gear in engagement with a selected drive gear comprising shift means for relatively axially shifting the drive spindles and selector gears from a first operative relationship providing for engagement of the range gears with the drive gears and a second inoperative relationship in which the range gears are out of axial alignment with the drive gears to permit the rotary selectors to be rotated about the axis of the take-off spindle assembly, the improvement wherein the variator comprises range gear mounting means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the rotary selector and rotatably supporting the range gear and spring means biasing the lever to an operative pivotal position to position the range gear in operative engagement with the selected drive gear and permitting pivotal movement of the lever in a retracting pivotal direction if the range gear teeth do not intermesh with the teeth of the selected drive gear when the drive spindles and selector gears are relatively axially shifted into said operative relationship. 

1. In a variator having a rotary input, a rotary output, at least one rotary controller angularly settable for setting the variator drive ratio between the rotary input and output, presettable means for programming a plurality of variator drive ratio settings, and setting means for individually selecting the programmed drive ratios and for angularly setting the rotary controllers for setting the variator in accordance with the selected drive ratio, the improvement wherein the setting means comprises a bank of a plurality of ratchet wheels for each rotary controller, each connected to be rotated to angularly set the rotary controller, and pawl drive means for selectively driving corresponding ratchet wheels of the ratchet wheel banks for setting the variator, and wherein the presettable means comprises control means associated with each ratchet wheel and presettable for discontinuing the pawl drive at a selected angular position of the respective rotary controller for programming the variator.
 2. In a variator according to claim 1 having a plurality of rotary controllers of ascending order, wherein the setting means comprises a plurality of banks of coaxial ratchet wheels and wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels for rotating corresponding ratchet wheels of the ratchet wheel banks for setting the variator.
 3. In a variator according to claim 1 wherein each ratchet wheel comprises a tooth sector operatively engageable by the pawl drive means and the control means associated with the ratchet wheel comprises a nontooth sector providing for discontinuing the pawl drive and wherein the tooth and nontooth sectors are angularly presettable together for discontinuing the pawl drive at a selected angular position of the respective rotary controller.
 4. A variator according to claim 1 wherein the ratchet wheels are coaxially mounted and wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels for indexing the ratchet wheels.
 5. A variator according to claim 4 wherein the drive pawl means comprises a plurality of coaxial pawls for the ratchet wheels respectively and wherein the setting means comprises a pawl selector means for selectively activating the ratchet pawls for indexing the respective ratchet wheels upon oscillation of the pawl drive means.
 6. A variator according to claim 5 wherein the pawl selector means comprises a rotary selector rotatable for selectively activating the pawls and is mounted for oscillation with the pawl drive means.
 7. A variator according to claim 6 wherein the pawl selector means comprises intermittent gearing with a driven gear connected to the rotary selector and an intermittent drive gear mounted coaxially with the ratchet wheels and permitting said oscillation of the rotary selector with the drive pawls without affecting the angular setting of the rotary selector.
 8. In a variator according to claim 4 wherein each rotary controller is angularly settable in a plurality of equiangularly spaced selector positions, wherein the pawl drive means is mounted for oscillation between a first retracted angular position and an extended angular position for indexing the selected ratchet wheels, and wherein the setting means comprises locking means for locking the rotary controller in one of its selector positions with the pawl drive means in its retracted angular position.
 9. In a variator according to claim 8 wherein the locking means comprises a first rotary locking member connected to rotate with the rotary controller and a second locking member mounted to oscillate with the pawl drive means for cooperation with the first locking member to lock the rotary controller with the pawl drive means in its retracted angular position.
 10. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus having a cost register operable for registering the cost of the fluid product dispensed, settable variating means having an output connected for operating the register in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and a unit volume price established by the setting of the variating means, and apparatus control means comprising presettable means presettable for programming the setting of the variating means and therefore the unit volume price of each of the fluid products and setting means selectively operable for selectively conditioning the apparatus for dispensing the fluid products and for setting the variating means and therefore the unit volume price in accordance with the corresponding setting of the presettable means, the improvement wherein the setting means comprises at least one bank of a plurality of ratchet wheels for the plurality of fluid products respectively, each connected for setting the variating means by rotation thereof, and stepping pawl means operable for selectively driving the ratchet wheels in accordance with the selected fluid product for setting the variating means, and wherein the presettable means comprises drive controller means associated with each ratchet wheel and presettable for selectivelY discontinuing the pawl drive for programming the setting of the variating means.
 11. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of rachet wheels of said bank are coaxial.
 12. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the stepping pawl means comprises a bank of a plurality of coaxial stepping pawls for the plurality of ratchet wheels respectively, and wherein the setting means comprises a pawl selector for selectively activating the pawls for engaging the ratchet wheels respectively and drive means for reciprocating the bank of pawls for indexing the corresponding ratchet wheel.
 13. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the setting means comprises a plurality of said banks of ratchet wheels and separate stepping pawl means for each of the banks of ratchet wheels.
 14. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the variating means comprises a plurality of decade sections of ascending order for establishing a plurality of places respectively of a multiple place unit volume price, wherein the setting means comprises a bank of said rachet wheels for each of the decade sections, and stepping pawl means for each of the banks of ratchet wheels.
 15. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus having a cost register operable for registering the cost of the fluid product dispensed, settable variating means having an output connected for operating the register in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and a unit volume price established by the setting of the variating means, and apparatus control means comprising presettable means presettable for programming the setting of the variating means and therefore the unit volume price for each of the fluid products and setting means selectively operable for selectively conditioning the apparatus for dispensing the fluid products and for setting the variating means and therefore the unit volume price in accordance with the corresponding setting of the presettable means, the improvement wherein the setting means comprises at least one bank of a plurality of rotary drivable means for the fluid products respectively, each connected for setting the variating means in accordance with the angular position thereof, and drive means for selectively rotating the rotary drivable means in accordance with the selected fluid product for setting the variating means, and wherein the presettable means comprises drive controller means associated with each rotary drivable means and presettable for discontinuing the rotation of the drivable means at a selected angular position thereof for programming the setting of the variating means.
 16. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of rotary drivable means are coaxially mounted, wherein the drive means comprises a plurality of separate disengageable drive members for the plurality of rotary drivable means respectively selectively operable for rotating the respective drivable means, and wherein the setting means comprises selector means for selectively operating the drive members for rotating the corresponding rotary drivable means.
 17. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each rotary drivable means comprises a ratchet wheel and wherein the drive members are ratchet drive pawls.
 18. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of rotary drivable means comprises a plurality of ratchet wheels respectively.
 19. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the drive controller means comprises inoperative angular portions on the ratchet wheels angularly settable by angularly setting the ratchet wheels.
 20. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the ratchet wheels are coaxially mounted, wherein the drIve means comprises a plurality of coaxial pivotal drive pawls for engaging the plurality of ratchet wheels respectively, a pawl support for supporting the coaxial drive pawls for reciprocable motion for indexing the ratchet wheels, and means for reciprocating the pawl support.
 21. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the pawl support is mounted for pivotal reciprocable motion about the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels.
 22. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the setting means comprises a selector cam rotatably mounted on the pawl support for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the coaxial drive pawls and angularly settable for selectively activating the drive pawls for operative engagement with the ratchet wheels.
 23. In a multiple product fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the selector cam axis is parallel to and laterally spaced from the axis of the coaxial ratchet wheels, wherein the setting means comprises a driven gear connected to the selector cam and an intermittent drive gear mounted coaxially with the ratchet wheels and engageable with the drive gear for angularly setting the selector cam and angularly settable to permit said pivotal motion of the pawl support without affecting the setting of the selector cam.
 24. In a variator comprising a rotary input, a rotary output, an annular arrangement of a plurality of parallel drive spindles connected to the rotary input for being simultaneously driven thereby, at least one drive gear set comprising an annular arrangement of drive gears mounted on the drive spindles respectively for providing different drive ratios from the rotary input; a take-off spindle assembly having an axis parallel to the drive spindles and located within the annular arrangement thereof and comprising a rotary selector for each drive gear set mounted for rotation about the take-off spindle axis and a range gear eccentrically mounted on the rotary selector and rotatable by the selector for selective engagement with each drive gear of the respective drive gear set, and gear means connecting the range gears to the rotary output for driving the output in accordance with the rotation of the range gears by the selected drive gears; and variator setting means for setting the drive ratio of the variator by angularly setting each rotary selector for setting the corresponding range gear in engagement with a selected drive gear comprising shift means for relatively axially shifting the drive spindles and selector gears from a first operative relationship providing for engagement of the range gears with the drive gears and a second inoperative relationship in which the range gears are out of axial alignment with the drive gears to permit the rotary selectors to be rotated about the axis of the take-off spindle assembly, the improvement wherein the variator comprises range gear mounting means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the rotary selector and rotatably supporting the range gear and spring means biasing the lever to an operative pivotal position to position the range gear in operative engagement with the selected drive gear and permitting pivotal movement of the lever in a retracting pivotal direction if the range gear teeth do not intermesh with the teeth of the selected drive gear when the drive spindles and selector gears are relatively axially shifted into said operative relationship. 